Method of inhibiting the precipitation of lithium soap in an aqueous solution of lithum hypochlorite



Patenteci Feb. 3, 194

uNi'rE o PATENT? ()FF'ICE' METHOD LOF' 'INHIBITING THE 'JPRECIPITA- TION OF "LITHIUM SOAP IN AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION- OF -LITHIUM HYPOGHLORITE 1 Edward G: Soule; Niagara Falls NfYL; assignor'tob The :MaflfieSon AIkaH Works, Inca- New Y ork; l N; Y.; acorporationof Virginia No' Drawing Application March 19, ,1943, Serial No. 479,7.810 .'j

11 Claims (01. 2528 -97 This=in-vention relates toimprdvementsin vari-aous operations; forinstance cleansing;; sterilizing;

disinfecting iand' the-like; wherein aqueous -solutions containing lithiu'm compounds are :used:v It" relates 'more 1 particularly to :the prevention 'of theprecipitation of-lithium'soaps and'bther difficuitly soluble ilithium compounds from" such solutions byth'e'presence'ofa water -soluble poly-'- phosphate; 1. ea phosphatecontaining more than one "atom" of phosphorus percm'olecuie 'of phosphate:

The invention is especiallyf'applicable to'processes 5 wherein the useof a clear hypochlorite solution" is desirable and wherein lithium hypochlorit'e. may be used with advantage; and will be r illustrated with reference to such processes? This aspect of the invention: contemplates "either the concurrent orseparate addition Of thelithium hypochlorite' "and polyphosphate to 'thesolution; The invention also .:'contemplates a solid "stable product comprising Tlithiulni hypochl'orite and a water-solublepolyphosphate by the use of "which clear hypochlorite water solutions may be directly obtained.

Thougn'lithium' is usually considered be longing to thealkalimetalgroumf it'is distin' guished from the other :members'. "of? that group in several important" respects. Lithium compounds'are' relatively rare and expensive." Their use in the: industries;employing compounds "of"? other members of f'the" alkali metal? group jha's' heretofore been veryjjlimited and until recently characteristics and behavior .of lithium com pounds; For exampliefthe saltsand :soapsJof sodium and potassium are generally highly s01 relatively little has been knownconcerningthef ubl'e in water.. Thisisialsotrue of thecom'poundsi of ammonia; sometimes! grouped Zwithfthe alkali metals. .t On" the other hand,'1ithiuirij soaps have been found toiibexonly slightlyi solublein water and many of" the lithium' salts are difilcultly sol uble'."

I have found ,th'at'wh'en' tsolubl'eil'ithium" com pounds are used" in aqueouslsolution' in. the presence of the common soaps'of other alkali metals,

such as sodium and potassium, there is a tendency" iorthe lithium to'displace the metal constituents of such soaps "and to form 'relativelyiinsoluble' lithium soaps; which precipitate and cloud the solution. Also; where soluble lithium' compounds are used in" aqueous solution "in the'presence' of various-othersalts; for instance'those ionizing to io'rm'fluoride; carbonate;orthophosphate or silicate ions, diflicultlysoluble lithium:compounds are formed-and precipitate out of solution. It

is one'" object "of l the present invention; inits broader aspect, to-maintain-in aqueoussolution these relatively'jinsoluble lithium compounds:-

I have discovered that the precipitation 'of such" lithium compounds :may besubstantially completely prevented .Ol materially inhibitedby'the' presence of'a wateresoluble polyphosphatet In cleansing and disinfecting operations; jforj' instance, where hypochlorites are "customarily employed, it is desirable to use clear. watersolu-1 Calcium hypochlorite, commonly usedior 1 some" purposes,'gives a cloudy suspension in water; and. must besettled and decanted in order'to ob-' v tions".

taina -clear,,. aqueous solution of calciumihypo chlorit'e- An alternateprocedureis to add sodi-l um carbonate to .the calcium hypochloriteesus pension whereby a clear aqueous solution of sodium hypochlorite is obtainedaftera itation and settling.

the-available chlorinec It is also possible to prepare an. unstable pentahydrate of sodium hypochlorite which is solid-below temperatures of; about 30 C. While it is'possible to obtain clear solutions of hypochlorites by dissolving:.thissolid in water, the 'solid lmaterial=is not suitable/for shipping and storing. because of itsrelativeinstabilityiand its'low melting point.

Furthermora in laundering and securing oper-t a;

ations; m example; the'concurrent use of: hypo= volved in its use.

Though the art hasfully'appreciated the desir ability ofobtaining a hypochlorite' product in" solid 'form; which is stable under the conditions of shipment and storage and from whichia clear solution may be directly obtained and maintained under the conditions of use, aliypochlorite composition having these characteristics has not heretofore been available.-

It is a further object-of the invention to providea process wherein-hypochlorite may be sup r plied as lithium hypochlorite andin whichthe Sodium and potassium hypochlorites are: rela-- tively 'lessstable than calcium hypochlorite and, V while they may be prepared.andshipped-in theform of-a clear solution, such preparationsyare expensive andrelativelyunstable with respect :to

precipitation of insoluble lithium compounds is avoided.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a solid. stable hypochlorite composition which, when added to water, especially in the presence of soap and soap builders, will yield clear solutions under the conditions ordinarily encountered in the use Of hypochlorites.

Lithium hypochlorite has been found to be more stable than the hypochlorites of other alkali metals. It may, for instance, be economically prepared free from contaminating lithium chloride by the processes described in my co-pending applications Serial No. 479,778, filed March 19, 1943, and Serial No. 479,779, filed March 19, 1943, now abandoned, either as an aqueous solution or as a solid product. Solid lithium hypochlorite compositions heretofore available have invariably contained not less than about 30.7% of water based on the lithium hypochlorite present. 1. e. an amount of water equivalent to the monohydrate.

A particularly desirable source of lithium hypochlorite for use in the so id product of my present invention is that described in the copending application of Homer L. Robson and the Dresent applicant, Serial No, 475,174, filed February 8, 1943, now abandoned, which is a stable, solid lithium hypochlorite composition of unusually low water content, i. e. substantially less than the monohydrate, and containing about 100% or more available chlorine. In this substantialy anhydrous form, this lithium hypochlorite composition is a particularly desirable constituent of my present product though less dehydrated lithium hypochlorite compositions may also be used with advantage. Lithium hypochlorite in either of these forms may be shipped and stored at reasonable temperatures and, when added to water alone, yield clear solutions.

However, unlike other alkali metal soaps, lithium soaps are only slightly soluble in water and many lithium salts are difiicultly soluble. Thus, While lithium hypochlorite alone is outstandingly satisfactory with respect to stability, available chlorine content and the production of clear aqueous solutions, its use has been greatly restricted because of the relative insolubility of many of its compounds, and especially of its soaps, formed under the conditions usually encountered in its practical use.

I have discovered that the difliculties heretofore experienced in such use of lithium hypochlorite, due to the formation of insoluble lithium soaps, salts and the like, may be avoided by the presence in, the lithium hypochorite solution of suitable proportions of a water-soluble polyphosphate such as the polyphosphates of sodium or potassium. By such addition of polyphosphates to the lithium hypochlorite solution, the precipitation of insoluble lithium compounds normally occurring when lithium hypochlorite is added to water containing various salts and especially soap, is prevented.

Examples of polyphosphates which I have found particularly effective for this purpose are sodium tetra-meta-phosphate, Na4P4O12, sodium penta-meta-phosphate, NasPsois, sodium hexameta-phosphate, NasPeOis, sodium tetraphosphate, Na6P4013, sodium tripolyphosphate,

NasPsOm and sodium pyrophosphate, Na4PzO1. Pyrophosphates have been found especially effective. The

corresponding polyphosphates of potassium may also be used with advantage.

For the purpose 'of the instant disclosure including the appended claims the pyrophosphates, although sometimes otherwise classified, are to be considered as polyphosphates.

Though, in accordance with my improved process, the lithium hypochlorite and the polyphosphate may be supplied separately and added to the solution either separately or concurrently, these two materials may be more conveniently and advantageously used, and with less possibility of incorrect use, if supplied as a single composition in proper proportions,

I have found intimate admixtures of lithium hypochlorite and polyphosphates in solid form to be stable under conditions normally encountered in shipment and storage and I prefer to use these materias in that form.

Usually a somewhat larger proportion of the polyphosphate to the hypochlorite than 1:1 is desirable. I prefer to use not less than about 50% by weight (based on these active ingredients) of the polyphosphate and not more than about 50% by weight of a lithium hypochlorite composition containing approximately 100% of available chlorine. Lithium hypochlorite preparations containing substantially less than 100% available ch orine may be used in the process or in preparing the solid product of my invention but in such case it is desirable to increase the percentage of the lithium-hypochlorite-containing component and in some cases this constituent may amount to more than 50% by weight.

I have found that the polyphosphate constituents of my improved product may, if desired, be as high as about 99% by weight and the hypochlorite constituent as low as 1% or slightly less. However, a particularly advantageous composition for general use is one comprising approximately of polyphosphate and about 10% of a lithium hypochlorite product having an available chlorine content of about 100%.

In using the composition last mentioned, 1 part thereof added to 1000 parts of Water or to 1000 parts of an 0.1% soap solution, will yield a solution containing about 100 parts per million of available chlorine and 900 parts per million of the polyphosphate. This represents approximately the usual amount of availablechlorine used in ordinary laundering and disinfecting operations and the percentage of polyphosphate present is sufiicient to maintain the lithium soap, or other insoluble lithium compound customarily encountered, in solution at temperatures ordinarily used.

The proportion of polyphosphate may be Varied considerably to .meet particular requirements. However, compositions containing from about 80 to of polyphosphate, based on the weight of the active ingredients, have been found especially suitable in practical operations ordinarily encountered. Where the. hypochlorite and polyphosphate are added separately, similar proportions may advantageously be used.

Inert diluents', including various inorganic salts, may be present in my composition without materially interfering with its practical use. The proportions of such inert materials present may, for example, be as high as 50% or more of the total Weight of the composition. It will be noted, however, that the percentages of lithium hypochlorite and of polyphosphates appearing herein and in the appended claims are based on the weight of the active ingredients present,-i. e. lithium hypochlorite and polyphosphates. 1 Theinventionwill be further illustrated by th means following specific examples, in each of which the lithium hypochlorite used was a solid, substantially anhydrousstable product containing 98.1% available chlorine'and having the following analysis by weight:

Per cent Lithium hypochlorite 80.6 Chlorate (as LiClOs) 2.84 Chloride (as 'LiCl) 3.59 Alkalinity (as LiOH) 10.45 Water (by diiference) 2.52

Total -1 100.00

Example I A mixture of parts of the above lithium hypochlorite composition and 90 parts of sodium 6.. which, as" previously noted, is a'bout' the usual concentration used for laundering and disinfecting operations. A stock solution was also made'up containing 0.1% soap and 0L01% sodium silicate, Naz'SiOaQI-IzO. The sodium silicateis'knOWn as a soap builder and it or itsequivalent is usually Polyphosphate Agent, percent Sodium Hexameta-phosph Sodium Tetraphosphate Tetra Sodium Pyrophosphate Temperature of Mixing, C Temperature of First Appear. of Precip Temperature of Heavy Precipitation, C

Re-solution Temperature. C

1 Below room temperature. 1 Above boiling point of the solution.

hexa-meta-phosphate was prepared by mixing the dry solids. 1 part of this admixture was added to 1000 parts of 0.1% soap solution at 70 C. l

and noprecipitation occurred even after standing for in excess of hour. The solution contained approximately 1000 parts per million of soap, 100 parts per million of available chlorine and 900 parts per million of sodium hexa-meta-phosphate.

Example II 5 parts of the previously noted lithium hypochlorite was admixed, as in Example I, with 95 parts by weight of sodium tetraphosphate. 1 part of this'composition was added to 500 parts of an 0.1% soap solution to obtain a composition containing 100partspermillion of available chlorine, 1900 parts per million of sodium tetraphosphate and 1000 parts per million of soap. The solution was clear and remained clear indefinitely at temperatures above 35 C.

Example III A solid, stable composition containing 90% of tetrasodium pyrophosphate'and 10% of the lithium hypochlorite, when used as described in the foregoing examples, gave similar results. In no one of the above cases was the precipitation of lithium soap apparent.

Example IV Further to illustrate the eflicacy of polyphosphates'in preventing the formation of'insoluble lithium soaps andthe like in accordance with my present invention, the following tabulation of comparative results, using lithium hypochlorite with and without the use of polyphosphates, is presented. In carrying out the experiments from which the tabulated data was obtained, lithium hypochlorite having the analysis previously given herein was made into an aqueous stock solution containing 0.00311 gram of available chlorine per milliliter. 5 milliliters of this solution, diluted to 150 milliliters, gave a solution containing approximately 100 parts per million of available chlorine,

From the foregoing it appears that, in the first of these tests wherein no polyphosphate was used,

lithium soap was precipitated even at a mixing temperatureof 70 C. and therefore suoh a solution containing approximately parts per million of available chlorine would not be satisfactory for use in laundering. However, the presence of as little as 0.04% of sodium hexa-meta-phosphate in the solution prevented the precipitation of lithium soap until the temperature had dropped to57 C. and a heavy precipitate was not obtained under such conditionsat temperatures in excess of 45 0. Similarly, 0.1% or more of sodium tetraphosphate or sodium pyrophosphate in these solutions Was suflicient to maintain clear solutions which would be satisfactory for laundering operations. For instance, using only 0.1% of sodium tetraphosphate, a heavy precipitation of lithium soap *did not occur until the temperature had dropped below room temperature.

As previously noted, the polyphosphates are compatible withlithiumhypochlorite in dry, solid 'form and admixtures thereof are stable, and, in the absence of substantial proportions of lithium chloride, are free from objectionable deliquescence, and capable of withstanding conditions normally encountered in shipment and storage without material decomposition or loss-in available chlorine content.

Though the invention has. been particularly described and illustrated by reference to the use of lithium hypochlorite as the soluble lithium compound, it will be understood that my improved method of preventing the precipitation of insoluble lithium soaps and salts is not dependent upon the presence of'hypochlorite ions in the solution but is applicable generally to solutions of soluble lithium compounds such as the choride, chlorate or hydroxide. In solutions of soluble lithium compounds, generally, containing soap or ions such as fluoride, carbonate, orthophosphate or silicate ions which combine with lithium to form insoluble lithium compounds, the precipitation of such normally insoluble lithium compounds is inhibited by the presence of the polyphosphate whether or not hypochlorite ions are present, I

The amounts of polyphosphate to be added will generally depend upon the amount of lithium ions present. In more concentrated solutions, larger amounts of polyphosphate will be requiredto prevent precipitation of the insoluble lithium compounds from solution. Generally, an amount of polyphosphate approximately equal to the amount of soluble lithium compound in the solution, by weight, will be found to give favorable results. Somewhat larger or smaller proportions of polyphosphate, for instance such as previously llustrated herein with reference to lithium hypochlorite, may be used with advantage.

I claim:

1. The method of inhibiting the precipitation of a lithium soap in an aqueous solution of lithium hypochlorite and a soap from the class consisting of sodium and potassium soaps which comprises adding a water-soluble polyphosphate to the solution in an amount at least equal by weight to the lithium hypochlorite present.

2. The method of inhibiting the precipitation of a lithium soap in an aqueous solution of lithium hypochlorite and a soap from the class consisting of sodium and potassium soaps which comprises adding to the solution an amount of a water-soluble polymetaphosphate suflicient to give a weight ratio of polymetaphosphate to hypochlorite within the range 8:2 to 95:05.

3. The method of inhibiting the precipitation of a lithium soap in an aqueous solution of lithium hypochlorite and a soap from the class consisting of sodium and potassium soaps which comprises adding to the solution an amount of a water-soluble pyrophosphate snfficient to give a weight ratio of pyrophosphate to hypochlorite within the range 8:2 to 95:05.

4. The method of inhibiting the precipitation or" a lithium soap in an aqueous solution of lithium hypochlorite and a soap from the class consisting of sodium and potassium soaps which comprises adding to the solution an amount of a watersoluble tetraphosphate sufiioient to givea weight ratio of tetraphosphate to hypochlorite within the range of 8:2 to 95:05. 7

5. The method of inhibiting the precipitation of a lithium soap in an aqueous solution of lithium hypochlorite and a soap from the class consisting of sodium and potassium soaps which comprises adding to the solution an amount of sodium heXa-metaphosphate sufficient to give a metaphosphate:hypochlorite ratio by weight of about 9:1, the lithium hypochlorite having an available chlorine content of approximately 100%. i

6. The method of inhibiting the precipitation of a lithium. soap in an aqueous solutionof lithium hypochlorite and a soap from the class consisting of sodium and potassium soaps which comprises adding to the solution an amount of sodium pyrophosphate sufiicient to give a, pyrophosphatezhypochlorite ratio by weight of about 9:1, the lithium hypochlorite having an available chlorine content of approximately 100%.

7. The method of inhibiting the precipitation of a lithium soap in an aqueous solution of lithium hypochlorite and a soap from the class consisting of sodium and potassium soaps which comprises adding to the solution an amount of sodium tetraphosphate sufiicient to give a tetraphosphatezhypochlorite ratio by weight of about 9: 1, the lithium hypochlorite having an available chlorine content of approximately 100%.

8. A stable, solid hypochlorite composition comprising from 520% lithium hypochlorite and. from 80-95% sodium hexa-metaphosphate by weight, the lithium hypochlorite being substantially anhydrous and having an available chlorine content of approximately 100%.

9. A stable, solid hypochlorite composition comprising from 5-20% lithium hypochlorite and from 80-95% sodium pyrophosphate by weight, the lithium hypochlorite being substantially anhydrous and having an available chlorine content of approximately 100%.

10. A stable, solid hypochlorite composition comprising approximately 90% of sodium hexametaphosphateand approximately 10% of lithium hypochlorite by weight, the lithium hypochlorite conforming substantially to the following analysis:

Per cent Lithium hypochlorite 80.6 Chlorate (as LiClOs) 2.84 Chloride (as LiCl) 3.59

Alkalinity (as LiOI-I) 10.45 Water (by difference) 2.52

11. A stable, solid hypochlorite composition comprising approximately of sodium pyrophosphate and approximately 10% of lithium hypochlorite by weight, the lithium hypochlorite conforming substantially to the following analysis:

- Per cent Lithium hypochlorite 80.6 Chlorate (as LiClOs) 2.84 Chloride (as LiCl) 3.59 Alkalinity (as LiOH) 10.45

Water (by difierence) 2.52

EDWARD C. SOULE.

' REFERENCES orrnn The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

, UNITED STATES PATENTS O'IHER REFERENCES Modern Soapand Detergent Industry, Martin, Crosby, Lockwood & Son, London (1931), volume .1, section 1, page 11. 

